Air conditioning units



7, 1965 u. BOWMAN 3,201,043

AIR CONDITIONING UNITS Original Filed June 30, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

01 unnuwd INVENTOR. URBAN BOWMAN.

BYWAAX? ATTORNEY.

Aug. 17, 1965 u. BOWMAN 3,201,043

AIR CONDITIONING UNITS Original Filed June 30, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 URBAN MW W 4 m F 5 G F 2 3 G 6 I. In t F I 5 l Y/ vM///v/ /v// /////////v// g I 7 A\I w l 2 M I v 6 1, l O G O u 9 MF e 2 3 2 u 6 6 3 7 5 AA- All Ill |A|| /l 2 I a 3 I 7 H1- -LH- 2 2 5\ 2 x 1 v vv I L s u United States Patent 3,201,943 AIR CUNDITWNKNG UNlTS Urban Bowman, New York, N.Y., assignor to Qarrier Corporation, Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation oi Deiaware Original application June 30, 1959, Ser. No. 824,067. Divided and this application Feh. 19, 1963, Ser. No.

3 Claims. (Cl. ass-1 This invention relates to air conditioning units including diaphragm damper arrangements and, more particularly, to an air conditioning unit including a diaphragm damper arrangement and control means therefor. This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 824,067, filed June 30, 1959, entitled, Air Conditioning Units.

in induction air systems of the type disclosed, for example, in Carrier Patent No. 2,363,294 granted November 21, 1944, room units have been employed in which the volume of primary air has been held constant while temperature of secondary air induced through the unit heat exchanger has been varied by increasing or reducing the volume of conditioning medium flowing through the heat exchanger. Generally speaking, such systems involve expensive piping costs while the necessity of providing a summer-winter changeover valve at each unit which is capable of satisfactory modulation to meter the flow of conditioning medium through the heat exchanger under summer or winter operating conditions greatly increases the cost of the system.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide a room unit for use in an induction type air conditioning system designed to obviate the disadvantages present in previous systems of this type.

An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning unit including a diaphragm damper arrangement and control therefor for use in an induction type air conditioning system.

A further object is to provide an air conditioning unit including a control responsive to temperature in the area being treated to vary the pressure imposed upon a diaphragm damper arrangement thus varying the quantity of secondary air passing through or bypassing the heat exchanger and including means responsive to temperature of conditioning medium passing through the unit heat exchanger to select the diaphragm damper in use.

Other objects of the invention will be readily perceived from the following description.

The present invention relates to an air conditioning unit comprising, in combination, a plenum chamber adapted to be placed in communication with a source of supply of primary air, a heat exchanger adapted to be placed in communication with a source of heat exchange medium, means connected to the plenum chamber to discharge primary air therefrom to induce secondary air through the heat exchanger, a diaphragm damper arrangement responsive to a predetermined control air pressure to regulate the quantity of secondary air induced through the heat exchanger and control means for the diaphragm damper arrangement to vary the quantity of secondary air induced through the heat exchanger.

The attached drawings illustrate preferred embodiinents of the present invention, in which FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of an air conditioning system including air conditioning units of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of an air conditioning unit of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic view of a control arrangement for the diaphragm damper arrangement shown in FIGURE 2.

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FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of a modified form of the air conditioning unit shown in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of a modified air conditioning unit.

Referring to the attached drawings, there is shown in FIGURE 1 an air conditioning system of the induction type including room units of the present invention. The system includes a central station 2 including dampers 3 through which exterior air may pass into the central station, a filter 4, a pre-cooling coil 5, a spray arrangement 6, a cooling coil 7, a heating coil 8 and a fan 9. Fan 9 draws air through the dampers 3 into the central station where the air is treated and supplies this treated air as a source of primary air through a riser 10 and run-outs 11 to room units 12 placed in the areas 13 being treated. It will be observed that the room units 12 are shown diagrammatically, such units being illustrated in greater detail in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5.

A refrigeration machine 15 is provided to furnish cold water to the room units. Pump P draws cold water from refrigeration machine 15 and forwards the cold water through line 16 to the heat exchangers in the room units 12, the Water returning from the room units after passage in heat exchange relation with secondary air induced into the units through line 117 to the refrigeration machine.

A source of hot Water it; is also provided for passage to the heat exchangers of the room units during winter operating conditions. This heating source 18 is connected to pump P by line 19 and to return line 17 by line 20. Suitable valves are provided in these lines to permit cold water or hot Water to be furnished alternately to the room units as desired.

Referring to FIGURE 2, there is shown a sectional view of a room unit 12. Room unit 12 includes a casing 25 in which is placed a plenum chamber 26 adapted to be connected to run-out 11 to permit primary air to be supplied to the plenum chamber. Suitable discharge means 27 such as nozzles may be provided in plenum. chamber 26 to discharge primary air at a predetermined pressure within the units. The discharge means 27 may consist of separate spaced nozzles or may be a single slot type nozzle.

A heat exchanger 28 is placed in casing 25 and is adapted to be connected to lines 16 and 17 to permit conditioning medium to be passed therethrough. A partition 29 separates heat exchanger 28 from plenum cham: ber 26 and in effect provides a bypass passage for secondary air between the plenum chamber and the heat exchanger. The room unit may be suspended from the wall 3% of the building structure; preferably, the room unit is spaced from the floor 31 of the building structure to permit room air to be induced into the unit from the bottom thereof.

Unit 12 includes an inlet 32 to permit secondary air to be induced into the unit and an outlet 33 to permit a mixture of primary air and secondary air to be discharged into the area being treated.

Passage of secondary air through the heat exchanger of the unit is regulated by means of a diaphragm damper arrangement 34. Arrangement 34 includes a separation plate 35 which forms a continuation of partition. 29 and, in effect, divides or separates inlet 32. One portion of the inlet permitssecondary air to passthrough the heat exchanger; the other portion of the inlet permits second ary air induced into the unit to bypass the heat exchanger. Diaphragms 36, 37 are mounted on opposite sides of plate 35. These diaphragms are connectedto a source of air pressure, as hereinafter explained.

In FIGURE 3, there is shown a suitable control arrangement for the diaphragm damper arrangement 34. Referring to FIGURE 3, there is shown direct acting pressure relays or regulator 40 connected by line 41 to a suitable source of control air pressure which, preferably,

9 is primary air pressure as reflected in the plenum chamber 26 of the room unit. Regulator 49 includes two chambers 42, 43 which in effect constitutes two direct acting pressure relays. It will be understood two separate relays may be provided if desired. Line 44 connects chamber "42 to the chamber formed by separation plate and diaphragm 37. Line 45 connects chamber 43 to the diaphragm chamber formed by diaphragm 36 and separation plate 35; A changeover valve 45 is placed in lines 44-, 45 to select the diaphragm chamber 36, 37 in which air pressure is applied. Preferably, changeover valve is regulated by means of a bulb placed on heat exchanger 25 so that it is responsive to a temperature of conditioning medium passing through the heat exchanger. Since warm water is supplied to the heat exchanger under winter operating conditions and cold water is supplied to the heat exchanger under summer operating conditions, it will be appreciated that valve 4-6 selects the diaphragm in use under these various operating conditions.

Both chambers 42 and 43 of regulator 45) are connected to a control 43 which is responsive to temperature in the area being treated. A predetermined pressure is applied through regulator it to the diaphragm chamber in use. Control 43 serves to bleed air from the regulator thus varying the pressure imposed against the diaphragm of the chamber in use.

Considering the operation of the air conditioning unit under summer operating conditions, primary air is supplied to the plenum chamber 26, being discharged therefrom through nozzles 27 inducting secondary air through inlet 32 into the unit. Regulator it) supplies a predetermined air pressure from the plenum chamber through chamber 43 thereof and line to diaphragm chamber 35 of damper arrangement 34. The diaphragm is inflated to close that portion of inlet 32 permitting secondary air induced into the unit to bypass heat exchanger 28 so that all secondary air induced into the unit passes through the heat exchanger 28. Assuming, however, that temperature in the area being treated decreases, control 48 senses such decrease in temperature and permits a portion of the control air pressure to bleed from chamber 43 thus reducing air pressure in diaphragm chamber 31' and permitting some portion of secondary air induced into the unit to bypass heat exchanger 28.

Similarly, under winter operating conditions, changeover valve 46 selects chamber 37 to be connected to regulator 40. Thus chamber 37 is inflated while chamber 36 is deflated permitting secondary air induced into the unit to bypass the heat exchanger. However, as temperature conditions in the area being treated decrease, control 48 serves to bleed air from regulator 4t and diaphragm chamber 37 thus permitting some portion of the secondary air to be induced through the heat exchanger to heat the secondary air so that a mixture of primary and secondary air at a predetermined temperature is supplied to the area being treated.

The room unit shown in FIGURE 4 is similar to the room unit shown in FIGURE 2 except that an inlet 32 is provided in the rear of the unit, the unit being spaced from the Wall St permitting secondary air to be drawn downwardly between the unit and wall 39 through inlet 32' into the unit. It will be appreciated that the damper arrangement may include mechanical damper arrangements, the diaphragm being employed to actuate the mechanical dampers.

In FIGURE 5, I have shown a modified form of room unit which is a so-called blow-through unit. This unit includes a plenum chamber containing a first portion 56 connected through run-out 11 to a source of supply of primary air and a second portion 57 separated into a first sectidh 58 and a second section 59. An inlet 65) connects section 58 with portion 56 of plenum chamber 55. An inlet 61*. connects second section 539 with portion 56 of plenum chamber 55. First section 53 is provided with nozzles 62 while second section 57 is provided with nozzles 63. The diaphragm damper arrangement 34 is provided to close inlets 6d and 61 so that the damper arrangement regulates passage of primary air from the first portion 56 of the plenum chamber into sections 58 and 59 of the plenum chamber rather than regulating the passage of secondary air through the heat exchanger.

A heat exchanger 65 is placed above nozzles 62 of the plenum chamber 55. Heat exchanger 65 includes a coil 65 adapted to be connected to the source of supply of conditioning medium and having vertically extending heat exchange passages 67 placed on either side of coil 66. Thus, the discharge of primary air through nozzles 62 induces secondary air from the area being treated to mix with the primary air, the mixture passing upward through the vertically extending passages 67 being conditioned therein by coil as and being discharged into the area being treated.

When primary air is discharged from nozzles 63 of a second section 59, secondary air induced into the unit bypasses the vertically extending passages 67 of the heat exchanger 65 so that the secondary air is not varied in temperature, the mixture passing upward rearwardly of the heat exchanger and being discharged into the area being treated.

It will be appeciated heat exchanger 65 may be supported from the Wall 3% or, if desired, may be supported from plenum chamber 55 by suitable support means (not shown).

it will be appreciated in this case the operation of the diaphragm damper arrangement is similar to that described in connection with the draw-through unit (FIG- Unns 2, 4. r

As shown in FIGURE 5, the diaphragm damper arranger eat and unit is being operated under summer operating conditions so that the mixture of primary air and secondary air passes through the vertically extending passages 67 of heat exchanger 65. i

it will be understood, of course, the various units described herein may be provided wi-th casings or furred in the building or structue, as desired.

The pesent invention provides an air conditioning unit which greatly reduces the cost of installation of an induction type air conditioning system since the piping costs may be greatly reduced while the need for changeover valves to vary flow of conditioning medium through the heat exchangers is eliminated. The unit may be almost wholly constructed in a factory thus eliminating the need for and cost of engineering services in the field. The use of air conditioning units of the present invention greatly simplifies the water piping of an induction type air conditioning system and permits the control to be integrated with a modular unit.

If desired, of course, primary air may be supplied from one plenum chamber of a first unit to a plenum chamber of a second unit while conditioning medium may be supplied from the heat exchanger of a first unit to the heat exchanger of a second unit thus permitting modular installation of the units rather than connecting each plenum chamber by means of a run-out to the riser.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood the invention is not so limited since it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a control arrangement for an induction type air conditioning unit for regulating the passage of secondary air in a substantially constant volume through a plu- 'rality of openings into the unit under summer and winter operating'conditions, the'combination of a diaphragm arrangement comprising a separating plate placed adjacent the openings, a first diaphragm cooperating with the separating plate to form a first diaphragm chamber to coperate with a first opening to regulate passage of air therethrough a second diaphragm cooperating with the separating plate to form a second diaphragm chamber to cooperate with a second opening to regulate passage of air therethrough, a regulator to communicate with a source of air pressure, said regulator including a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber being connected to said first diaphragm chamber for supply of air pressure thereto and said second chamber being connected to said second diaphragm chamber for supply of air pressure thereto, means for selecting the diaphragm chamber connected to said regulator for supply of airpressue to the selected diaphragm chamber and means for regulating the pressure applied in the selected diaphragm chamber,

2. A control arrangement according to claim 1 in which the regulating means are responsive to V-a-riationin temperature in an area being treated.

3. A control arrangement according to claim 2 in which the selection means are temperature responsive.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS EDWARD 1. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR AN INDUCTION TYPE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FOR REGULATING THE PASSAGE OF SECONDARY AIR IN A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT VOLUME THROUGH A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS INTO THE UNIT UNDER SUMMER AND WINTER OPERATING CONDITIONS, THE COMBINATION OF A DIAPHRAGM ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING A SEPARATING PLATE PLACE ADJACENT THE OPENINGS, A FIRST DIAPHRAGM COOPERATING WITH THE SEPARATING PLATE TO FORM A FIRST DIAPHRAGM CHAMBER TO OPERATE WITH A FIRST OPENING TO REGULATE PASSAGE OF AIR THERETHROUGH AND A SECOND DIAPHRAGM COOPERATING WITH THE SEPARATING PLATE TO FORM A SECOND DIAPHRAM CHAMBER TO COOPERATE WITH A SECOND OPENING TO REGULATE PASSAGE OF AIR THERETHROUGH, A REGULATOR TO COMMUNICATE WITH A SOURCE OF AIR PRESSURE, SAID REGULATOR TO COMMUNICATE FIRST CHAMBER AND A SECOND CHAMBER, SAID FIRST CHAMBER BEING CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST DIAPHRAGM CHAMBER FOR SUPPLY OF AIR PRESSURE THERETO AND SAID SECOND CHAMBER BEING CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND DIAPHRAGM CHAMBER FOR SUPPLY OF AIR PRESSURE THERETO, MEANS FOR SELECTING THE DIAPHRAGM CHAMBER CONNECTED TO SAID REGULATOR FOR SUPPLY OF AIR PRESSURE TO THE SELECTED DIAPHRAGM CHAMBER AND MEANS FOR REGULATING THE PRESSURE APPLIED IN THE SELECTED DIAPHRAGM CHAMBER. 